Design House Digital and Me

I am coming down from Design House Digital's Dollar Days just in time to discover that they are doing a free blog series on design!  It's called "School of Design".   Everyday in September they will post information that will inspire you to create.  

Easter 2012 FBC Salinas, CA - Design House Digital Products

Just reading the topics excite me!  SO COOL!!!!

• Mondays: The Theory of Color – Arielle Gordon
• Tuesdays: Making Templates Your Own – Crystal Livesay
• Wednesdays: Creative Clustering – Mye De Leon
• Thursdays: Grammar Girl’s Guide to Great Journaling – Audrey Neal
• Fridays:  Inspiration Everywhere – Mary Rogers
• Saturdays: Brushes 101 – Jen Flaherty
• Sundays: Photography: Tips & Tricks – Jennifer Valencia

I am a novice when it comes to digital design.  For the most part I use Pages to put my pages together.  PhotoShop is too overwhelming with all the options.  Maybe someday I'll sit down and figure it out.    

Here's a project I made this week with Design House Digital products.  It's a photo cluster that I am going to print out and put on a paper page.  I think I'll print it out twice so that I can pop it up to add some layers.  

Thank you for visiting me today!  See you at Design House Digital's School of Design!

Smiles,
~Nancy


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BARROW AGAIN!!!!

Yes, I haven't blogged for the majority of this year.  Guess what happened?!  We moved back to the arctic!!!!  That's right!!!  We are finally home.  I thank God for our time in Oregon and I thank Him even more for bringing us back to Alaska.

I really struggled with deciding whether or not I should bring my studio up with us.  A room full of crafty goodness is very expensive to move from the Lower 48 to very top of world.  I was ready to put paper crafting on hold and try my hand at digital designing only.  My husband was shocked that I would consider leaving my craft supplies behind.  When it came down to it he advised me against going all digi and to bite the bullet and ship everything up.  BIG SMILES.

It's been wonderful to back.  We are almost settled all the way in.  The only thing left to unpack and organize is my studio.  Yep, everything had to come first and now I am at the point that I just have to create again!  I don't know how I've lasted so long without cutting paper, adhering bling, and making flowers.

Now that we are back in Barrow, my husband and I both have new jobs.  I am back to working full time again.  Our daughter started kindergarden and we are reunited with our grown son who lives in here too.  We are also back in our home church.  I just about cried every church service for the first few weeks.  I feel so blessed.... blessed beyond measure.

Now that I am looking back over our summer I've discovered that I hardly took any pictures during our transition.  I think you would of been impressed with the mountains of totes it took to get us moved.  Anyhow, here's a glimpse of me and Ellie on our way back to Barrow.  Our longest flight was just under four hours.  From beginning to end it took us 13 hours of travel time and two plane changes to get home.  Towards the end Ellie was done being in her seat.  I cringed when she insisted on making herself comfortable on floor to play.  I guess if I were that little I would want all the space to play too.  Thankfully she is a good traveler and loves the adventure.  We are two peas in pod when it comes to traveling.

So there you have it... we are finally HOME!  Barrow, Alaska

Picture from: Nomadic Birder
Barrow, Alaska Blog Post

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Privacy Screen & My Handyman

My handyman and our project.

Yep, it's me... Miss Neglectful Blogger.  Lots of life stuff happenin' here.  Nothing bad.  Just busy.  I've been blessed with a temporary job that requires me to travel.  While I am gone I don't have reliable internet access.  So here I am months later with a post.

Peek-a-boo!!!  Can you see our neighbors?

We are in the midst of selling our home.  It's a wonderful four bedroom three full bath blessing.  I'd love to take it with us when we finally head back to Alaska.  Since that's not feasible our home is for sale.  As one of our property improvements we've installed a "privacy screen" in our front yard.  We went with a screen to block the view into the duplex next door and to keep the rest of the view of the valley open.

The concept of a privacy screen didn't really click with my husband until I pulled up a few designs from the web.  We were set with an awesome design and about to buy our supplies when I came across this one.  This concept was way more simple and cost effective.  We spent a total of $400's on this project which was a great deal for the end product.  We were diligent to take the time to shop around for supplies.  We actually more than doubled our screen for the same price as what as estimated for just two sections.

She handed Daddy the lights.  She was so proud to help.

I loved the whole process.  This was one of the few home improvement projects that me and my husband have started and finished together.  It was cool.  We found the designs together, shopped together, and assembled together.  Really I just did the sewing with the canvas and helped string them together.  What a bonding experience.  This was a several day process to make.  One day to dig the holes and pour cement for the metal post holders.  Another day for the stain to dry.  Posts and lights up another and then finally my part with the canvas.

Looking good!

Anyhow, the privacy screen is wonderful!  It blends in well with our landscape and makes the yard look much better.  At night the solar lights shine and every time I see them on I smile.

Smiles,
~Nancy

PROJECT LINK:
Lowe's Wind/Privacy Screen

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Counting Down Heidi Swapp Style!

I don't know why but this post I've written and re-written so many times over the last three days!  I just can't seem to get it right.  So instead of explaining it all, I'm just going to show you what I made last week.  Here it is... pure fun!

Thank you for checking in on me!  Your comments make my day!

Smiles,

~Nancy

Pedestal Countdown Project Details:

Countdown printable designed by Heidi Swapp

Tutorial on My Craft Channel, Create to Remember

Frame from Ikea

Miscellaneous embellishments

House of Three Daily Junque Stamps, Papers, Parisian Anthology Brooch Brads

Stamping Up Retired Dye Inks

Palette Inks

Linking to:
WIP Monday at ScrapScene
Polly Wants A Cracker
Whatever You Want Wednesday at Free Pretty Things for You

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Shape EZ Dress Template from Whimsy Stamps Designed by TLC

Surprise!  Another card creation!  To top it off there wasn't even a single stamp used to make this one too.

My blogging friend Tammy Louise of Handmade by TLC designs Shape EZ cut files.  Guess what I had a chance to play with?!  I am so excited to share that I recently designed a card with her Shape EZ dress template.  I chose to use the PDF file.  The design files also come as SVG's and PNG's.

To get me started I cut out the templates and traced the templates onto cardstock and designer paper with a pencil.  It was no problem to hand cut the pieces.  I figured that it would of took me longer to setup my cutting machine than to hand cut the templates.  (I haven't quite learned how to use my cutting machine.)  From there it was an easy assembly.   I even used embellishments that have been in my stash way too long.

Oh I have plans for this template!  The ideas are flowing-flowing.  If you have a moment, go checkout Tammy's blog and leave her some love.

Whimsy Stamps Store

Smiles,
~Nancy


CARD DETAILS:
PAPERS: CTMH Cream Cardstock & Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime
INK: VersaMagic Pink Petunia & Gingerbread
TEMPLATE: Shape EZ Dress Template
EMBELLISHMENTS:  Miscellaneous Sewing Lace, Vintage Lace, MS Pastel Mini Pearls, Sizzlits Little Leaves die, MS Edge Punch, Misc Ribbon Rose, Misc Broche Button, 3D Scribbles Shiny Winter White Paint, AaBbCcDd... Twill Ribbon from Pink Persimmon

Linking to:
Whatever You Want Wednesday at Free Pretty Things for You!
From Dream to Reality Link Party #10

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Can it Be a Card?!

Yep, it took that many Copics to those colors!

Oh happy me!  I couldn't take it anymore... I just had to color!   This is my first card creation in months that I actually stamped.  I chose a simple design with bright and bold colors.  Stampin' Up's Pony Party was perfect for coloring.  I think I've had this set in my stash for over a year now without ever inking it up.  SHAMELESS!

Instead of a single color scheme I went with "rainbow" colors.  It was such a struggle to get the effect I was going for.  I almost scrapped my first attempt entirely because it was so bad.  The colors were bleeding into each other in a bad way.  In the end I let it be and decided not to be so critical and enjoy the process.

A closer view.

I think I'll have to break out the stamps more often and color.  SO RELAXING!  By the way, I added all that shimmer with Copic Spica pens.

Smiles,
~Nancy

Linking to:  WIP on ScarpScene  (HELLO EVERYONE hopping over from WIP!)

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Mixed Media Album with Jennifer Preist

Finally done!  Yep, it took me all this time to get my photos together and write this post.  It's so shameful but here it is... another winter CHA project.  This mixed media album was designed by Jennifer Priest of Hydrangea Hippo.  She was very sweet and organized but by the time I sat down in class I was too exhausted to really pay attention and get the project done.  Thankfully Jennifer had emailed us the instructions and I finished putting it all together at home.  It felt good to get it completed.  This was the last of the projects left from CHA to finish.  Out of the three times I've gone to CHA this was the first time that I actually completed everything that I brought home.  Whoot-whoot!

The supplies for this workshop were provided by: Authentique, Zutter, Xyron, Clear Snap, The Twinery, and Want 2 Scrap.   I really love the kit Jennifer put together.   Jennifer had also included dictionary paper and doilies.  We decoupaged them to clipboard wood.  It was a first for me to play with decoupaging and a neat technique to learn.  The only thing complicated about it was waiting for it to dry.


An unexpected gleaning from this class was that Jennifer demystified the Bind-It-All.  I am so thankful to finally know how to use that binding machine!  BIG SMILES!

While putting this together I made a big mistake with the papers for the cover so my album front is totally different than Jennifer's.  Had I not changed the cover one of my pages would of had the print upside down and I couldn't allow that.  Along with my cover being different I also made a few embellishment placement changes. 

The mix of embellies, papers, and design is perfect.  I kept some of the best baubles for my stash and added more of my own blingy gems.  For additional sparkle I also added Stickles here and there.  Actually I added the most on the banner and hot air balloons on the front cover.


I am thinking of using this album for a years worth of combined family birthdays.   This project is not quite a fit color and design wise for our princess pink five year old daughter.

Again this project was designed by Jennifer Priest. You can find her on the web at www.hydrangeahippo.com or teaching classes in California.  She also has an etsy shop.  You can find the link to her shop on her website.

I am glad to have met Jennifer and to have been able to have a seat in her workshop.  She is a very hard worker and an inspiration to all in the crafty world.  I totally recommend her classes especially if you want to learn something unexpected.  Make a visit to her website too.  You won't be sorry.


If you want to compare and contrast the original against my finished book you can find her post on her website titled "Celebrating-- Tomorrow!!!".

I still have two more posts with CHA projects that I hope to eventually get done. Thank you so much for visiting me today!

Smiles,
~Nancy

Links to:
Authentique
Zutter
Clear Snap
Xyron
The Twinery
Want 2 Scrap

LINKING TO:
WIP Monday on ScrapScene
Whatever You Want Wednesday at Free Pretty Things for You

Vintage Street Market and Basically Bare

Keeping in step with the latest CHA, here's another workshop sample.  Class was with Candy Rosenberg and it was awesome.  This is from the last of the three classes I was fortunate to have with Candy.  I took my album home with the pages primarily all done.  Once at home I added a bunch of my own embellishments.

Front Cover

I was so excited to open our class kit.  We had the largest of Basically Bare's album and Vintage Street Market goodies to create with!  The album had a mix of acid free cardboard, canvas, envelopes, and clear acrylics.  We had two stashes of Vintage Street Market packets to use.  One envelope had these huge sheets of wrapping and crate paper.  The other had vintage style cutout paper dolls.  Both companies have such unique products.

Click to see a larger view.

Anyhow, here's my final project.  I still need to pick out an event to use the book for.  Maybe next time I am visiting my parent's house I can find some family memorabilia to add to my book.   In the mean time I am happy to look through my book just how it is.  

Check out the dress form above.  It is one of Basically Bare's embellishments.  Here I distressed the edges, added a ribbon and hemp twine for a sash, and finally topped it off with flowers and a heart straight pin.

Notice the brown ruffled trim?  It is a strip of the huge sheet of crape paper and on the right side are two envelopes bound as pages.  One is left bare and the other is covered with the olive wrapping paper.

Do you see the acrylic pages on the right?  They are the same size as the two envelopes from the previous page.  The corners are rounded.  I added matchbook style folded papers.  One on each side.  I can easily tuck a picture or a journal note inside either of the matchbooks.

 Here you can see the backside of the acrylic pages over the bright yellow wrapping paper.  It looks pretty cool if you ask me.

I loved putting this project together.  Every time I look at it I think of the good time I had in class that day.

I'm glad you stopped in on me today!

Smiles,
~Nancy

Links:
Vintage Street Market & Basically Bare
Whatever You Want Wednesday, Free Pretty Things for You

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Quick Quotes Frame

I've heard of Quick Quotes but I never really knew what they were all about until this past CHA.  Basically they are a kit of the month club.  If you ask me they are the grand momma of kit clubs.  This scrapbook company services both the average joe crafter and wholesalers.  They have two types of kits that alternate every other month between layouts and altered arts.

I happened to find their booth when they were demoing one of their altered art projects.  Boy am I glad to have found them.  I LOVE-love their kits!  We made an altered frame from a stretched canvas.  We actually decorated the back of canvas which leaves a space for a 4"x6" photo.

Quick Quotes is pretty cool.  Their styles are right on for the current trends and their products are of quality materials.  I simply adore that each project has already been designed for you to assemble.  They take all the stress out of making something fun and creative.  Every things is even pre-cut.   It's amazing!

I took home this frame almost completely done.  I left a few details to finish at later so it wouldn't be damaged in my suite case.  In transit I had lost some of the additional bling for the flowers so I used some of my own. The portrait is of me and my grown son taken almost two years ago.

So what do you think?  Do you know all about Quick Quotes?  I LOVE THEM!

Smiles,
~Nancy

Quick Quotes Link:  Quick Quotes a Scrapbook Company 

Quick Quotes Blog Link:  QQ Blog

Linking to: Free Pretty Things for You
Whatever You Want Wednesday #66

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Swapp! Irresistible!

Meet the Swapps!

Have you already seen Heidi Swapp's new collection of goodies?  Her products are always clever and innovative.  I know this might sound silly but you have to know that I just discovered Heidi Swapp.  I know she's been a longtime designer in scrapbooking industry but I just had no clue.

Two Make-n-Takes and Promo Sticky Notes

I was totally excited to make my way to her booth at CHA.  Lucky for me, I made two different make-n-takes with her and her husband over a two day period.   They were both very sweet both times.  It was cool.  [Insert BIG happy face here!]

The inside of the card swings out.

Check out how this card swings out.  Too clever for sure!  I know I was impressed.  The card was pretty much pre-assembled.  We added the embellishments.  Those neon tapes are right on with what's going on in the fashion world.  Who would of thought that "NEONS" would be back in?!  I think that Heidi Swapp has made those colors and patterns work well.  I am for sure on board with Heidi Swapps designs.

  

The hearts on the inside.

The cute little ditty with the bow on the front has a surprise on the inside too.  The hearts were pre-cut and all I needed to do was tape them together.  So simple with a great design impact.

Here are my pictures that I snapped while visiting the Heidi Swapp booth.

Heidi Swapp Product Display

Banners and Bows

Trimmings plus more...

Pennants!

I do believe that these are already in stores for purchase.  I know I want it all!

Thank you for stopping in today.  It makes my day brighter to know you were here.

Smiles,
~Nancy

Heidi Swapp's Blog:  Still Me
Linking to Free Pretty Things for You.  Click on these links:   Free Pretty Things for You & Whatever You Want Wednesday

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